Goodwin backs fresh faces to help Saints beat the drop

JIM GOODWIN is convinced that three weeks of frantic wheeling and dealing have left him with a St Mirren squad that can compete in the Scottish Premiership.

The signing of Junior Morias earlier this week marked the seventh arrival in Paisley since the club crashed out of the Betfred Cup at the end of July, taking their summer signing spree to ten. Alarm bells were ringing when the Buddies faltered at the group stage, losing to Dunfermline and failing to score a goal against either East Kilbride or Albion Rovers.

But positivity is flowing round Paisley again after Saints defeated Aberdeen two weeks ago and Goodwin has highlighted the trust between himself and the board as the reason things are looking up. ‘When I took the job, I knew we had a lot to do as a lot of boys left in the summer,’ admitted the St Mirren boss.

‘We were trying to identify good players and the ones you bring in have to be better than what you already have. We have brought a lot in, but nobody has let us down so far. ‘For me, they’ll only get better. I’ll keep asking the board for more and ask for one more signing. I think I said that to them about four signings ago, mind you. We’ll work until the window closes but there is no panic now.

‘We have a level of trust between myself and the board. They can see the players we identify have a good standard and are the level required.’ St Mirren welcome Steven Gerrard’s Rangers to Paisley tomorrow and Goodwin is hopeful the Ibrox men’s Europa League tie against Legia Warsaw will work in his side’s favour.

‘Rangers are in it at 0-0 and it might have a bearing on Steven’s team for Sunday,’ he said. ‘The first three games have been a baptism of fire but I wouldn’t have it any other way.’